Westside Future Fund

Earlier this week, the historic Westside of Atlanta witnessed an inspiring collaboration between the Westside Future Fund and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), as over 400 volunteers gathered to celebrate and give back to Booker T. Washington High School. This volunteer event was not only a testament to community spirit but also a tribute to the school’s 100th anniversary. Volunteers engaged in numerous activities, including landscaping, mural painting, maintenance and more. As Booker T. Washington High School embarks on its next century, the efforts of the WFF Volunteer Corps have left a lasting impact. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/efXFxeWn

As we approach the third annual Ride for the Westside event, I'm filled with hope and determination for our community's future. On September 28, Westside Future Fund and our valued partner, Quest Community Development Corporation, invite you to join us in a celebration that embodies the resilience and potential of Atlanta's historic Westside.   This event is more than just a ride, run, or walk - it's a journey through the very streets where Civil Rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once lived and worked. As we traverse these historic neighborhoods, we'll witness both the challenges we're addressing and the ongoing transformation that honors their legacy.   Every participant - whether you're an experienced cyclist, an enthusiastic runner, or a casual walker - plays a crucial role in our mission. Your involvement directly supports our Home on the Westside program and Quest CDC's initiatives, providing quality affordable housing and vital supportive services to individuals and families in need.   Living in Vine City, just blocks from where Dr. King once resided, I'm reminded daily of the importance of our work. This event is a testament to our collective commitment to restoring these historic neighborhoods and creating opportunities for all residents.   I invite you to be part of this transformative experience. Let's ride, run, and walk together, forging connections and making a tangible impact as we work towards creating a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.   Register today and join us in this collective journey of restoration and hope: https://lnkd.in/gaDA3-xy #RideForTheWestside #WestsideAtlanta #CommunityEmpowerment

A huge thank you to all the incredible volunteers from LIIV Atlanta who joined us this past weekend for our July Community Clean Up! Over 100 volunteers showed up and made a massive impact as a part of the WFF Volunteer Corps by cleaning up blighted properties on Atlanta's historic Westside. Your dedication and hard work are critical to our work revitalizing and transforming our community into one that Dr. King would be proud to call home. Interested in volunteering at our next community clean up? Visit https://lnkd.in/gd3ausT #WeAreTheWestside #OurNextChapter #VolunteerAppreciation

Join a community in motion to benefit the historic Westside neighborhoods with Westside Future Fund and Quest Community Development Corporation at the third annual Ride for the Westside on September 28! Whether you're an avid cyclist, runner, walker, or just looking to support a great cause, this event is for you. Come out and enjoy a day of fun, community, and purpose as we pedal, run, and walk to raise critical funding to support the our efforts to equitably revitalize this Historic Atlanta Neighborhood into a place Dr. King would be proud to call home. Registration is NOW OPEN. Secure your spot today at https://lnkd.in/e7DDFeYx

In the latest installment of our Finding Home on the Westside series, meet Nedra Louis. Nedra has been a resident of the Westside her entire life, living on Ashby Terrace for 20 years. Several years ago, she experienced health challenges, including being diagnosed with COPD, a chronic inflammatory lung disease. Due to being hospitalized and a loss of income, Nedra faced housing insecurity. “Nothing came in time for me to keep put, I had to bounce from one end to the other. I needed somewhere to stay, and that’s how I ended up back on the Westside,” said Louis. “I was so glad when this came available.” Westside Future Fund’s (WFF) Home on the Westside program prioritizes people with live, work, and learn connections to the historic Westside. Today, Nedra lives in a new high-quality affordable housing apartment along James P. Brawley Drive. Learn more about Nedra and how she found Home on the Westside on our Stories of Impact blog at https://lnkd.in/eGuMBXyV

In its heyday, from the 1950s to the 1970s, the Phillis Wheatley YWCA was a gathering spot for our community. After being closed for more than a decade, the YWCA of Greater Atlanta is raising funds to renovate the building and expand programming for residents on Atlanta’s Westside. The organization is over halfway to its financial goal to restore the building and fund programming and services at the location, revitalizing a critical resource for women and children here in our community. Learn more about plans for the historic facility at https://lnkd.in/eP5bFJtp

Last month, community members and business leaders gathered at the June Transform Westside Summit to hear from local experts on the interconnection between housing stability and overall health outcomes. The Summit themed “Housing is Health" featured insightful discussions from key representatives of Kaiser Permanente, including Stefanie Hurst, Senior Director of Community Health, and Dr. Sylvia Morris, MD, MPH, Hospitalist and Area Physician Market Lead. Catch up with a quick recap or watch the full Summit on our Stories of Impact blog at https://lnkd.in/eWPv636z

As we commemorate National Homeownership Month, Westside Future Fund takes pride in celebrating the strides we’ve made in transforming lives and communities through our Home on the Westside program. Last year, we celebrated significant milestones that underscore our commitment to providing high-quality housing and financial stability to residents with deep ties to the historic Westside neighborhoods. Learn more about how we are transforming the Westside one home at a time at https://lnkd.in/eD9rtXtD #NationalHomeownershipMonth #WeAreTheWestside #OurNextChapter

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is proud to celebrate another member of our community finding a home on the Westside. Last month, Dr. Alix Pierre purchased a home in the English Avenue neighborhood. As a professor at Spelman College, Dr. Pierre meets WFF’s community retention guidelines for its signature high-quality, affordable housing program, Home on the Westside. HOTW prioritizes housing for those with live, work, and learn connections to the historic Westside. Dr. Pierre is a senior lecturer and resident scholar with Spelman’s Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator. He first learned about HOTW’s homeownership program for mortgage-ready buyers during a 2023 information session hosted by WFF’s HOTW team on the college’s campus. He looked forward to purchasing a home in the historic Westside to be closer to the academic institution. Learn more about Dr. Pierre and his journey to finding his Home on the Westside at https://lnkd.in/eHFxiWN2

We're grateful to CHRIS 180 for its continued work in providing key mental health and family services for the residents of Atlanta's Westside. Stable housing is key to quality of life, and we appreciate your work as an incredible community partner. Thank you to our Director of Home on the Westside, Tameka L. Askew, MSW,CLC, for sharing about your work leading our signature high-quality, affordable housing program, Home On The Westside. A special thank you to all of the participants of this week's advisory council panel!